Springfield Mayor Ken McClure has called on residents to participate in efforts for a cleaner and greener city in 2025. The initiative, formalized through a proclamation, is part of the city’s Forward SGF comprehensive plan.
The year 2025 marks the fifth anniversary of the Clean Green Springfield initiative, which has involved more than 1,000 volunteers annually since 2021 in activities such as litter collection and planting projects aimed at improving the city’s appearance.
Additionally, 2025 will be the 50th anniversary of Springfield’s Noble Hill Sanitary Landfill. The landfill is one of the few municipally owned and operated facilities in Missouri. It plays a key role in local waste management by providing an on-site solution for trash disposal and reinvesting its revenue into community services like recycling drop-off sites, the Yardwaste Recycling Center, and the Household Chemical Collection Center. The facility also maintains some of the lowest tipping fees in Missouri, which benefits both businesses and residents by keeping costs down.
Despite these advantages, officials warn that the landfill’s lifespan is decreasing quickly. In less than a decade, daily trash intake has more than doubled. City leaders emphasize that diverting waste from the landfill is important for both economic and environmental reasons.
Errin Kemper, Director of Environmental Services, said: “The Noble Hill landfill is a vital asset to our community, but its space for waste disposal is limited. To make the most of this resource, it’s essential that we learn more about what’s in Springfield’s trash. By improving recycling efforts and diverting more material from the landfill, we can reduce pressure on the facility and improve the services we offer. Understanding the makeup of our waste will help us provide more effective solutions for the community. That’s why the City is focused on continuing efforts to analyze our trash and recycling.”
Recent actions include a citizen survey on trash and recycling habits as well as plans for a waste characterization study.
Kemper added: “We want to understand the challenges our community faces with recycling and trash disposal. There are barriers to recycling, and the City is working to improve participation. We’re also hearing from neighborhoods about issues with trash disposal, including household waste and bulky items being left in backyards or dumped in alleyways. This not only makes our community look bad, but is also harmful to the environment.”
Looking ahead to 2026, city officials note that Springfield may receive national attention during events such as Route 66’s centennial celebrations, Kansas City hosting FIFA World Cup matches nearby, and America’s 250th birthday.
Residents are encouraged to take part by picking up litter while out in public spaces and participating in upcoming Clean Green Springfield events this spring. Opportunities include volunteer litter pick-ups, neighborhood competitions focused on cleanliness, scheduled cleanups, expanded recycling programs, beautification projects across Springfield, and taking part in Mayor McClure’s official challenge.
The city will provide updates through its communication channels regarding how individuals can report their contributions toward cleaning up litter.
